Image forming apparatus with constant voltage element for secondary transfer of toner image

Abstract

In a constitution in which a power source exclusively for primary-transfer is omitted and a predetermined voltage is generated in an intermediary transfer member, in a test mode in which a test voltage is applied to a secondary-transfer member in advance in order to obtain a proper secondary transfer voltage, in the case where the test voltage is low, a proper secondary-transfer voltage cannot be obtained in some cases. In a period of the test mode, the power source is controlled in order to maintain a Zener breakdown voltage, so that the proper secondary-transfer voltage can be obtained.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. An image forming apparatus comprising:
 an image bearing member configured to bear a toner image; 
 an intermediary transfer member configured to carry the toner image transferred from the image bearing member at a primary-transfer position; 
 a transfer member provided contactable to an outer peripheral surface of the intermediary transfer member and configured to transfer the toner image from the intermediary transfer member onto a recording material at a secondary-transfer position; 
 a constant-voltage element electrically connected between the intermediary transfer member and a ground potential and configured to form a predetermined voltage by passing of a current therethrough, said constant-voltage element comprising a Zener diode or a varistor; 
 wherein the predetermined voltage is a breakdown voltage of the constant-voltage element, 
 a power source to form both of a secondary transfer electric field at the secondary-transfer position and a primary-transfer electric field at the primary-transfer position by applying a voltage to the transfer member to pass the current through the constant-voltage element; 
 a detecting portion configured to detect the current passing through the transfer member; 
 an executing portion configured to execute a test mode in which a test voltage is applied to the transfer member by the power source to detect the current by the detecting portion when no recording material exists at the secondary-transfer position; and 
 a controller configured to control a voltage to be applied to the transfer member by the power source when the recording material exists at the secondary-transfer position on the basis of the current detected by the detecting portion in the test mode, wherein 
 the controller controls the test voltage applied by the power source so that the current passes through the constant-voltage element in a period of the test mode. 
 
     
     
       2. An image forming apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the power source voltage that is controlled by the controller includes a voltage lower than a voltage for forming the secondary-transfer electric field. 
     
     
       3. An image forming apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the detecting portion is a first detecting portion,
 the image forming apparatus comprises a second detecting portion configured to detect the current passing through the constant-voltage element, 
 the executing portion carries out detection at the second detecting portion by applying the test voltage to the transfer member at timing before the toner image is primary-transferred in order to set the voltage to be applied to the transfer member so that the current passes through the constant-voltage element, and 
 the controller controls the power source on the basis of a detection result of the second detecting portion. 
 
     
     
       4. An image forming apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein the executing portion carries out the detection at the second detecting portion in the period of the test mode. 
     
     
       5. An image forming apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the executing portion executes the test mode when a region of the intermediary transfer member corresponding to a region between the recording material and a subsequent recording material in the case where images are continuously formed is in the secondary-transfer position. 
     
     
       6. An image forming apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the intermediary transfer member has a structure of two layers or more, and
 a volume resistivity of the layer in the outer peripheral surface side is higher than a volume resistivity of the layer in an inner peripheral surface side. 
 
     
     
       7. An image forming apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the intermediary transfer member is an intermediary transfer belt, and
 the image forming apparatus comprises a plurality of stretching members configured to stretch the intermediary transfer belt in contact with an inner peripheral surface of the intermediary transfer belt. 
 
     
     
       8. An image forming apparatus according to  claim 7 , wherein the stretching members are stretching rollers having electroconductivity, and
 the stretching rollers are electrically connected with the constant-voltage element to electrically connect the intermediary transfer member with the constant-voltage element. 
 
     
     
       9. An image forming apparatus comprising:
 an image bearing member configured to bear a toner image; 
 an intermediary transfer member configured to carry the toner image transferred from the image bearing member at a primary-transfer position; 
 a transfer member provided contactable to an outer peripheral surface of the intermediary transfer member and configured to transfer the toner image from the intermediary transfer member onto a recording material at a secondary-transfer position; 
 a constant-voltage element electrically connected between the intermediary transfer member and a ground potential and configured to form a predetermined voltage by passing of a current therethrough, said constant-voltage element comprising a Zener diode or a varistor; 
 wherein the predetermined voltage is a breakdown voltage of the constant-voltage element, 
 a power source configured to form both of a secondary-transfer electric field at the secondary-transfer position and a primary-transfer electric field at the primary-transfer position by applying a voltage to the transfer member to pass the current through the constant-voltage element; 
 a detecting portion configured to detect the voltage applied to the transfer member; 
 an executing portion configured to execute a test mode in which a test current is passed through the transfer member by the power source to detect the voltage by the detecting portion when exists no recording material at the secondary-transfer position; and 
 a controller configured to control a voltage to be applied to the transfer member by the power source when the recording material exists at the secondary-transfer position on the basis of the voltage detected by the detecting portion in the test mode, wherein 
 the controller controls the test voltage applied by the power source so that the current passes through the constant-voltage element in a period of the test mode. 
 
     
     
       10. An image forming apparatus comprising:
 an image bearing member configured to bear a toner image; 
 an intermediary transfer member configured to carry the toner image transferred from the image bearing member at a primary-transfer position; 
 a transfer member provided contactable to an outer peripheral surface of the intermediary transfer member and configured to transfer the toner image from the intermediary transfer member onto a recording material at a secondary-transfer position; 
 a constant-voltage element electrically connected between the intermediary transfer member and a ground potential and configured to form a predetermined voltage by passing of a current therethrough, said constant-voltage element comprising a Zener diode or a varistor; 
 a power source to form both of a secondary transfer electric field at the secondary-transfer position and a primary-transfer electric field at the primary-transfer position by applying a voltage to the transfer member to pass the current through the constant-voltage element; 
 a detecting portion configured to detect the current passing through the transfer member; 
 an executing portion configured to execute a test mode in which a test voltage is applied to the transfer member by the power source to detect the current by the detecting portion when no recording material exists at the secondary-transfer position; and 
 a controller configured to control a voltage to be applied to the transfer member by the power source when the recording material exists at the secondary-transfer position on the basis of the current detected by the detecting portion in the test mode, wherein 
 the controller controls the test voltage applied by the power source so that the current passes through the constant-voltage element in a period of the test mode, 
 wherein said executing portion detects the current by the detecting portion for each of different test voltages in the test mode. 
 
     
     
       11. An image forming apparatus comprising:
 an image bearing member configured to bear a toner image; 
 an intermediary transfer member configured to carry the toner image transferred from the image bearing member at a primary-transfer position; 
 a transfer member provided contactable to an outer peripheral surface of the intermediary transfer member and configured to transfer the toner image from the intermediary transfer member onto a recording material at a secondary-transfer position; 
 a constant-voltage element electrically connected between the intermediary transfer member and a ground potential and configured to maintain a predetermined voltage by passing of a current therethrough, said constant-voltage element comprising a Zener diode or a varistor; 
 a power source configured to form both of a secondary-transfer electric field at the secondary-transfer position and a primary-transfer electric field at the primary transfer position by applying a voltage to the transfer member 
 a detecting portion configured to detect the current passing through the transfer member; 
 an executing portion configured to execute a test mode in which a test voltage is applied to the transfer member by the power source to detect the current by the detecting portion when no recording material exists at the secondary-transfer position; and 
 a controller configured to control a voltage to be applied to the transfer member by the power source when the recording material exists at the secondary-transfer position, on the basis of the current detected by the detecting portion in the test mode, 
 wherein the constant-voltage element maintains the predetermined voltage in the test mode. 
 
     
     
       12. An image forming apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein the power source is configured to cause the current to flow from the transfer member to the constant-voltage element through the intermediary transfer member. 
     
     
       13. An image forming apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein the voltage applied to the transfer member by the power source controlled by the controller includes a voltage lower than a voltage for forming the secondary-transfer electric field. 
     
     
       14. An image forming apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein the executing portion executes the test mode when a region of the intermediary transfer member corresponding to a region between the recording material and a subsequent recording material in the case where images are continuously formed is in the secondary-transfer position. 
     
     
       15. An image forming apparatus according to  claim 14 , wherein the stretching members are stretching rollers having electroconductivity, and
 the stretching rollers are electrically connected with the constant-voltage element to electrically connect the intermediary transfer member with the constant-voltage element. 
 
     
     
       16. An image forming apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein the intermediary transfer member has a structure of two layers or more, and
 a volume resistivity of the layer in the outer peripheral surface side is higher than a volume resistivity of the layer in an inner peripheral surface side. 
 
     
     
       17. An image forming apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein the intermediary transfer member is an intermediary transfer belt, and the image forming apparatus comprises a plurality of stretching members configured to stretch the intermediary transfer belt in contact with an inner peripheral surface of the intermediary transfer belt. 
     
     
       18. An image forming apparatus comprising:
 an image bearing member configured to bear a toner image; 
 an intermediary transfer member configured to carry the toner image transferred from the image bearing member at a primary-transfer position; 
 a transfer member provided contactable to an outer peripheral surface of the intermediary transfer member and configured to transfer the toner image from the intermediary transfer member onto a recording material at a secondary-transfer position; 
 a constant-voltage element electrically connected between the intermediary transfer member and a ground potential, and configured to maintain a predetermined voltage by passing of a current therethrough; 
 a power source configured to form both of a secondary-transfer electric field at the secondary-transfer position and a primary-transfer electric field at the primary-transfer position by applying a voltage to the transfer member; 
 a detecting portion configured to detect the voltage applied to the transfer member; 
 an executing portion configured to execute a test mode in which a test current is passed through the transfer member by the power source to detect the voltage by the detecting portion when no recording material exists at the secondary-transfer position; and 
 a controller configured to control a voltage to be applied to the transfer member by the power source when the recording material exists at the secondary-transfer position on the basis of the voltage detected by the detecting portion in the test mode, 
 wherein the constant-voltage element maintains the predetermined voltage in the test mode. 
 
     
     
       19. An image forming apparatus according to  claim 18 , wherein the power source is configured to cause the current to flow from the transfer member to the constant-voltage element through the intermediary transfer member.